Cap With Hemisphere Portion for Medical Injector

ABSTRACT

A medical injector includes an injector housing defining a reservoir, a plunger rod, and a stopper engaged with a portion of the plunger rod, the stopper being slidably disposed within the reservoir and sized relative to an interior of the injector housing to provide sealing engagement with a sidewall of the injector housing. The medical injector further includes a needle having a sharpened first end and a second end in communication with the reservoir, a first cap covering the sharpened first end of the needle, and a second cap covering at least a part of the first cap. The second cap includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a hemispherical member including a gripping component. The second cap is engaged with the first cap such that removal of the second cap simultaneously removes the first cap from the first end of the needle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/372,630 filed Dec. 8, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/264,518 filed Dec. 8, 2015, thedisclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to medical injector devices fordelivery of a fluid or liquid medicament. More particularly, the presentdisclosure relates to a safety cap and/or a cap remover for a medicalinjector device or a syringe.

Description of the Related Art

Medical injectors and syringes are well known in the prior art. Medicalinjectors may include auto-injectors and pen injectors which are capableof delivering selected doses of fluids including liquid medicaments orvaccinations to a patient. Medical injectors typically are configured toreceive a standard pre-filled glass or plastic syringe tipped with aninjection needle. These devices may include a drive member for advancinga plunger into a syringe barrel to expel a liquid medicament out throughthe needle. The required manipulation of a standard prior art hypodermicsyringe can be inconvenient, particularly where the injection isself-administered in a public environment, and many medication deliverypens, pen injectors, or other self-injectors have been developed tofacilitate self-administration of injections.

In order to maintain sterility prior to use and to reduce the risk ofincurring an accidental needle-stick, protection of the needle tip isimportant. Medical injectors are typically supplied with a rubber orplastic cap which guards the needle prior to use. Immediately prior touse, the user must remove the protective cap from the injector, such asby using the cap protector of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a medicalinjector includes an injector housing defining a reservoir, a plungerrod, and a stopper engaged with a portion of the plunger rod, thestopper being slidably disposed within the reservoir and sized relativeto an interior of the injector housing to provide sealing engagementwith a sidewall of the injector housing. The medical injector furtherincludes a needle having a sharpened first end and a second end incommunication with the reservoir, a first cap covering the sharpenedfirst end of the needle, and a second cap covering at least a part ofthe first cap. The second cap includes a body having a proximal end, adistal end, and a hemispherical member including a gripping component.The second cap is engaged with the first cap such that removal of thesecond cap simultaneously removes the first cap from the first end ofthe needle. The medical injector may further include a liquid medicamentdisposed within the reservoir.

The second cap may engage the first cap via a friction fit. For example,the second cap may include an interior wall defining a cavity in aproximal end of the second cap, such that the cavity is sized and shapedto receive at least a portion of the first cap. A protrusion extendsinwardly from the interior wall of the second cap and is adapted tofrictionally engage the first cap. The protrusion may be an annularring.

The first cap may be formed from a first material and the second cap maybe formed from a second material, the first material being differentfrom the second material. In one embodiment, the first cap is formedfrom an elastomeric sleeve disposed over at least the sharpened firstend of the needle. The second material may be harder than the firstmaterial.

The hemispherical member may be provided adjacent the distal end of thesecond cap body. The gripping component may include at least one ribextending at least partially about the hemispherical member and at leastone trough extending at least partially about the hemispherical memberadjacent the at least one rib. In one embodiment, the gripping componentincludes a plurality of ribs and a plurality of troughs extendingcircumferentially about the hemispherical member such that the pluralityof ribs and the plurality of troughs alternate from a proximal end to adistal end of the hemispherical member. The hemispherical member mayfurther include a flange having a substantially flat distally directedsurface.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a capremover includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and aninterior wall defining a cavity within the proximal end of the cap body,the cap remover body having a hemispherical member including a grippingcomponent. The gripping component includes a rib extendingcircumferentially about the hemispherical member and a trough extendingcircumferentially about the hemispherical member. The cavity is sizedand shaped to accommodate a cap disposed on a medical injector at leastpartially therein. With the cap received within the cavity, the capremover may remove the cap from the medical injector. The cap removermay further include a protrusion extending inwardly from the interiorwall of the cap remover body. The protrusion is adapted to frictionallyengage the cap. With the protrusion of the cap remover body engaged withthe cap, the cap remover body may disengage the cap from the medicalinjector upon application of a distally directed force to the capremover body.

In one embodiment, the gripping component includes a plurality of ribsand a plurality of troughs alternating from a proximal end of thehemispherical member to a distal end of the hemispherical member. Thehemispherical member may further include a flange having a substantiallyflat distally directed surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of thisdisclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparentand the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to thefollowing descriptions of embodiments of the disclosure taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a first elevation view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a second elevation view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a third elevation view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fourth elevation view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a fifth elevation view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sixth elevation view of a cap remover in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a medical injector with a cap remover inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a medical injector with a cap inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a medical injector in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a medical injector in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and suchexemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of thedisclosure in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the artto make and use the described embodiments contemplated for carrying outthe invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, andalternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled inthe art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, andalternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”,“right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”,“longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention asit is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understoodthat the invention may assume various alternative variations, exceptwhere expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understoodthat the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, anddescribed in the following specification, are simply exemplaryembodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and otherphysical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein arenot to be considered as limiting.

In the following discussion, “distal” refers to a direction generallytoward an end of a medical injector adapted for contact with a patientand/or engagement with a separate device, and “proximal” refers to theopposite direction of distal, i.e., away from the end of a medicalinjector adapted for engagement with the separate device. For purposesof this disclosure, the above-mentioned references are used in thedescription of the components of a medical injector in accordance withthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 1-12 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a cap remover or a second cap 32 of the presentdisclosure is illustrated. Referring to FIGS. 9-12, in one embodiment, amedical injector 10 of the present disclosure includes a first cap 30and a second cap or cap remover 32. The first cap 30 may be formed of aplastic and/or rubber guard material. Referring to FIGS. 10-11, thefirst cap 30 shields and covers a distal end 50 of a needle 14.Referring to FIG. 9, the second cap or cap remover 32 shields and coversthe distal end 50 of the needle 14 and the first cap 30. In oneembodiment, the second cap 32 may be formed from a harder material thanthe first cap 30 such that the second cap 32 provides a protectivecovering for the first cap 30 when the second cap 32 shields the firstcap 30. In another embodiment, the second cap 32 may be the only capthat shields and covers the distal end 50 of the needle 14.

In one embodiment, with the first cap 30 covering the distal end 50 ofthe needle 14 and with the second cap 32 covering the distal end 50 ofthe needle 14 and the first cap 30, the second cap 32 is engaged withthe first cap 30 via a friction fit such that removal of the second cap32 simultaneously removes the first cap 30 from the distal end 50 of theneedle 14.

Referring to FIGS. 9-12, a medical injector 10 includes a needleassembly 12 having a needle 14, an injector housing 16, a barrel 18having a reservoir 20 for medicament sealed by a septum 22, a stopper24, a plunger rod 26 having a flange 68, a spring 28, a first cap 30,and a second cap or a cap remover 32.

The medical injector 10 includes a distal end 34 and a proximal end 36.The reservoir 20 of the barrel 18 is encased within the injector housing16. In one embodiment, the reservoir 20 may be defined by the injectorhousing 16. In another embodiment, the reservoir 20 may be defined by aseparate component contained within the injector housing 16, e.g., acartridge or barrel. The needle assembly 12 includes a needle 14 and ahub 38. The needle 14 includes a distal end 50, formed for insertioninto a patient, and a proximal end 52.

The medical injector 10 of the present disclosure may be of variousforms, including being a syringe, self-injector, auto-injector, or peninjector. In one embodiment, the medical injector 10 is well-suited foradministering at least one fixed dose. In another embodiment, themedical injector 10 is well-suited for administering a series of fixeddoses. The medical injector 10 may be configured in any way known to becompatible with the plunger rod 26. The medical injector 10 may includea reservoir 20 for accommodating an injectable medicament, which may bea drug cartridge or formed directly in the medical injector 10. Thereservoir 20 may have one or more stoppers 24 associated therewith.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, the injector housing 16 of the medical injector10 includes an upper guard 40, a lower guard 42, and a base 44. Theupper guard 40 includes a first flange 46 and a first tapered wall 48.In one embodiment, the upper guard 40 provides a gripping component thatincludes surfaces for accommodating a user's fingers, such as fingergrip indentations or similar structure. For example, the upper guard 40provides ergonomically shaped surfaces that substantially conform to auser's fingertips to aid the user in manipulating the medical injector10 and using the medical injector 10 in a medical procedure, and mayprovide multiple finger grip positions for the user. The upper guard 40allows a user to handle and/or grip the medical injector 10 in a varietyof different ways.

The lower guard 42 includes a second flange 60 and a second tapered wall62. The lower guard 42 provides a second gripping component thatincludes surfaces for accommodating a user's fingers, such as fingergrip indentations or similar structure. In one embodiment, the lowerguard 42 provides a user with vertical stability in hand, preciselyduring needle insertion with the medical injector 10.

The upper guard 40 and the lower guard 42 together provide a grippingcomponent that includes surfaces for accommodating a user's fingers toaid the user in manipulating the medical injector 10 and using themedical injector 10 in a medical procedure.

The base 44 includes a flange 64 that contacts the skin of a user duringuse of the medical injector 10. The base 44 provides a stabilitycomponent that stabilizes the medical injector 10 on a user's skinduring use of the medical injector 10. In one embodiment, the base 44also hides the spring 28.

Referring to FIG. 9-11, the injector housing 16, the upper guard 40, thelower guard 42, and the base 44 are configured to provide viewingwindows 66. The viewing windows 66 allow a user to see the barrel 18that includes the medicament.

Referring to FIG. 10, a first cap 30 shields and covers the distal end50 of the needle 14. Referring to FIG. 9, the second cap or cap remover32 shields and covers the distal end 50 of the needle 14 and the firstcap 30. In one embodiment, the second cap 32 may be the only cap thatshields and covers the distal end 50 of the needle 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, the second cap or cap remover 32 includes a body100 having a distal end 101, a proximal end 102, a cylindrical portion104 adjacent the proximal end 102, and a hemispherical portion 106adjacent the distal end 101.

The hemispherical portion 106 includes an outer wall 110, an inner wall112, a distal flange 114, a first cavity 116, and a distal wall 118.

The outer wall 110 of the hemispherical portion 106 provides a grippingcomponent that includes surfaces for accommodating a user's fingers,such as finger grip indentations or similar structure. For example, theouter wall 110 of the hemispherical portion 106 provides ergonomicallyshaped surfaces that substantially conform to a user's fingertips to aidthe user in handling and grasping the second cap 32.

In one embodiment, the outer wall 110 of the hemispherical portion 106includes finger grip indentations 120 for providing a gripping componentfor accommodating a user's fingers. The finger grip indentations 120improve the grip between the second cap 32 and the user's fingertips. Inone embodiment, the finger grip indentations 120 are formed as aplurality of ribs 122 and troughs 124 extending along the periphery ofthe outer wall 110 of the hemispherical portion 106. In one embodiment,the finger grip indentations 120 are formed as a plurality ofalternating ribs 122 and troughs 124 extending circumferentially aboutthe periphery of the outer wall 110 of the hemispherical portion 106.The hemispherical portion 106 may terminate at a distal flange 119having a substantially flat distal distally directed surface.

In one embodiment, the alternating ribs 122 and troughs 124 areintegrally formed with the second cap 32 and provide a visual andtactile cue to the user to instruct the user where to place his or herfingertips.

In one embodiment, the shape of the second cap 32 is designed to helpdisabled people more easily and more conveniently handle the second cap32 and/or the medical injector 10.

The cylindrical portion 104 includes an outer cylindrical portion 130,an inner cylindrical portion 132, an outer wall 134, and inner wall 136,defining a second cavity 138. The cylindrical portion 104 provides asecure attachment of the second cap 32 to the distal end 34 of themedical injector 10 as shown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 1, the outercylindrical portion 130 extends proximally from the hemisphericalportion 106. Referring to FIG. 2, the inner cylindrical portion 132extends into a portion of the hemispherical portion 106. In oneembodiment, the outer cylindrical portion 130 may include a metallicring integrated therewith.

Referring to FIG. 2, the inner wall 136 of the cylindrical portion 104defines a second cavity 138 in the proximal end 102 of the cylindricalportion 104. Referring to FIG. 2, the outer wall 134 of the innercylindrical portion 132 and the inner wall 112 of the hemisphericalportion 106 define the first cavity 116 therebetween.

The second cavity 138 is sized and shaped to receive at least a portionof the first cap 30 therein. A protrusion 115 may extend inwardly fromthe interior wall 136 toward a longitudinal axis of the body 100. In oneembodiment, the protrusion 115 is an annular ring. In anotherembodiment, a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions 115extend inwardly from the interior wall 136 toward a longitudinal axis ofthe body 100. The protrusion 115 may include a tapered proximal surfaceangled from the interior wall 136 inwardly toward the longitudinal axisof the body 100 and downwardly toward the distal end 101 of the body 100for aiding the second cap 32 in sliding over the first cap 30.

With the first cap 30 covering the distal end 50 of the needle 14 andwith the second cap 32 covering the distal end 50 of the needle 14 andthe first cap 30, the second cap 32 is engaged with the first cap 30such that removal of the second cap 32 simultaneously removes the firstcap 30 from the distal end 50 of the needle 14. In one embodiment, thesecond cap or the cap remover 32 is removed from the medical injector 10by applying a distally directed force F to the second cap or cap remover32, as shown in FIG. 9.

In one embodiment, the hemispherical portion 106 of the second cap 32provides the above-described gripping component. In one embodiment, thehemispherical portion 106 of the second cap 32 provides ergonomicallyshaped surfaces that improve the grip between the second cap 32 and theuser's fingertips to aid the user in removing the second cap 32 from thedistal end 50 of the needle 14 and/or to aid the user in simultaneouslyremoving the second cap 32 and the first cap 30 from the distal end 50of the needle 14.

In one embodiment, the second cap 32 allows a user to handle the secondcap 32 without finger flexion. In one embodiment, the hemisphericalportion 106 of the second cap 32 provides a gripping component thatallows a user to better handle the second cap 32 and/or the medicalinjector 10.

When it is desired to use the medical injector 10 of the presentdisclosure, the second cap 32 is used to easily remove the second cap 32and the first cap 30 from the distal end 50 of the needle 14simultaneously. Referring to FIG. 11, with the caps 30, 32 removed, thedistal end 50 of the needle 14 is exposed and ready to be positionedadjacent a desired portion of the skin of a user. In one embodiment, thesecond cap 32 may be the only cap that shields and covers the distal end50 of the needle 14.

When it is desired to expel or deliver the medication contained withinthe barrel 18 of the medical injector 10, and with the medical injector10 properly used to contact and pierce the skin of a user, the flange 68of the plunger rod 26 and a portion of the injector housing 16 can begrasped, e.g., with the user's thumb on the flange 68 of the plunger rod26 and with the user's fingers extending around the first flange 46 ofthe upper guard 40 of injector housing 16. In this manner, the medicalinjector 10 can be grasped by a user in a well-known and well-recognizedmanner similar to the operation of a conventional hypodermic syringe.Next, the user effects a squeezing movement between the thumb on theflange 68 of the plunger rod 26 and four fingers grasping the firstflange 46 of the upper guard 40, thereby causing the plunger rod 26 tomove in a direction generally along arrow A (FIG. 11).

Movement of the plunger rod 26 in the direction generally along arrow Aactuates movement of the stopper 24 in the direction generally alongarrow A toward the distal end 34 of the medical injector 10. In thismanner, movement of the stopper 24 in the direction generally alongarrow A forces the medicament fluid contained within the reservoir 20 ofthe barrel 18 to be forced out the distal end 50 of the needle 14 andinto the user and/or patient.

After injection of the medicament fluid, the needle 14 can be removedfrom the skin of the patient. In one embodiment, the medical injector 10may include an automatic retraction mechanism for moving the needle 14into the injector housing 16 for safe shielding of the needle 14 afteruse. In one embodiment, the spring 28 may be used as part of theautomatic retraction mechanism.

All of the components of the medical injector 10 may be constructed ofany known material, and are desirably constructed of medical-gradepolymers.

While this disclosure has been described as having exemplary designs,the present disclosure can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cap remover, comprising: a cap remover bodyhaving a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior wall defining acavity within the proximal end of the cap remover body, the cap removerbody comprising a hemispherical member having a gripping component,wherein the gripping component comprises a rib extendingcircumferentially about the hemispherical member and a trough extendingcircumferentially about the hemispherical member, wherein the cavity issized and shaped to accommodate a cap disposed on a medical injector atleast partially therein, and wherein with the cap received within thecavity, the cap remover may remove the cap from the medical injector. 2.The cap remover of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion extendinginwardly from the interior wall of the cap remover body.
 3. The capremover of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is adapted to frictionallyengage the cap.
 4. The cap remover of claim 3, wherein with theprotrusion of the cap remover body engaged with the cap, the cap removerbody may disengage the cap from the medical injector upon application ofa distally directed force to the cap remover body.
 5. The cap remover ofclaim 1, wherein the gripping component comprises a plurality of ribsand a plurality of troughs alternating from a proximal end of thehemispherical member to a distal end of the hemispherical member.
 6. Thecap remover of claim 1, wherein the hemispherical member furthercomprises a flange having a substantially flat distally directedsurface.
 7. The cap remover of claim 1, wherein the hemispherical memberhas a first diameter and a second diameter located distally of the firstdiameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter. 8.The cap remover of claim 1, wherein the gripping component is configuredfor accommodating at least a portion of a user's fingers to aid inhandling the second cap.
 9. The cap remover of claim 2, wherein theprotrusion comprises an annular ring.
 10. The cap remover of claim 1,wherein the hemispherical member is provided adjacent the distal end ofthe second cap body.
 11. The cap remover of clam 1, wherein the capremover comprises a second material and the cap of the medical injectorcomprises a first material, wherein the first material is different thanthe second material.
 12. The cap remover of claim 11, wherein the secondmaterial is harder than the first material.
 13. The cap remover of claim1, wherein the rib and the trough are integrally formed with thehemispherical portion.
 14. The cap remover of claim 1, wherein thehemispherical member is adjacent to the distal end of the body.
 15. Thecap remover of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a cylindricalportion adjacent to the proximal end of the body.
 16. The cap remover ofclaim 15, wherein the cylindrical portion includes an outer cylindricalportion extending proximally from the hemispherical member and an innercylindrical portion extending into the hemispherical member.
 17. The capremover of claim 16, wherein the outer cylindrical portion includes ametallic ring integrated therewith.
 18. The cap remover of claim 16,wherein an outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion and an inner wallof the hemispherical member define a first cavity therebetween.
 19. Thecap remover of claim 3, wherein the protrusion includes a taperedproximal surface angled inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of thebody.
 20. The cap remover of claim 3, wherein the protrusion comprises aplurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions.